Abbott Laboratories arthritis drug ‘shows cancer and infection risk’

A new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association has found that Abbott’s anti-inflammatory drug Humira could increase the possibility of malignancies and infections in some patients.

Humira suppresses antibodies that can harm the body’s own tissues in cases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s and psoriasis, but these same antibodies are partly responsible for maintaining the tumour necrosis factor (TNF), which limits the growth of tumours and helps to prevent infections.

Scientists, including researchers from universities in Leicester and Manchester, analysed trial data to look for increased levels of malignancy and infection. They found that there was an increased risk of cancer, although not a large increase – one per cent of patients taking an anti-TNF drug would develop cancer that they would not otherwise get.

For serious infections, the report stated that an additional one in 59 patients could develop a serious infection within three to 12 months.

It concluded: “There is evidence of an increased risk of serious infections and a dose-dependent increased risk of malignancies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with anti-TNF antibody therapy.”

Remicade, another anti-inflammatory drug, was also studied. Scientists say that there is no alternative treatment for some of the diseases for which these drugs are prescribed and there is no suggestion that they are unsafe to use.

Humira, although manufactured and marketed by Abbott, is licensed by Cambridge Antibody Technologies, which was bought by AstraZeneca earlier this week for over 700 million pounds. AstraZeneca will now the receive royalty payments for the drug.

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